New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
led the warder; but he spoke like q man In q

removed his eyes from the warderS race.
Il am somewhat sleepy. The afternoon Is
warm. I had better enjoy little siesa echoed
the warder; and still he spoke like one laid in
dreams
That's right said Number 222. you shall
60 to sleep like an angel in a moment but first
| see whether you have any tobacco and news
paper In your pocket
Tho warderS hand went automatically 10 ms
pocket, and drew from il q tobacco pouch and the
days journal. lie laid them on the desk before
him. then lis head fell forward, and he slept like
/ a man entranced.
Number 222 walked to the officers place and
took I'D tho tobacco pouch and the newspaper.
The pouch had been newly filed: an even distri-
button OF its contents resulted in quid apiece
fOr-the convicts and each man received his NOR
sci ard chewed it with pale, asOnished face.
Number 222 then took up his position beside
the sleeping wardcr, and proceeded to read aloud
such items from the criminal tribunals he
Judged most likely to interest his audience.
There a signal enOrmity about these trans
actions which, when their establishment and alarm
had in some measure subslded the prisoners were
not slow to appreciate Few articles are in
higher degree contraband within the walls Of
prison than newspapers and tobacco and to chew
the one while listening TO the police reports IN
the other constituted height and excess of Illicit
felicity such as seemed chcaplL bought at the
price of prospective whippings.
At the end of an hour or SO Number 222 1olded
the newspaper, and having laid it on the warders
desk beside the tObacco-pouch returned TO MS
seat The convicts resumed their work and ST.
lence was restored
A few moments later the warder awolSe with the
same suddenness with which he had fallen asleep;
but the aspect Of his face and the air with which
he glanced over the room showed at once That he
was utterly oblivious of everything that had hap
pened since the moment when lie first addressed
himself to Number 222. Seeing his newspaper
and tobaccO-pouch on the desk before him, and
thinking it improbable that he had placed them
there himself, he concluded that he had gone to
sleep for q few minutes and that his pocket had
been picked. But he held his tongue Tor such
things had happened before, and he was much too
intelligent to lay charge against his gang which
he could only substantiate by inculpating himself.
If Number 222 had previously been a man Of
mark amongst his associates he basked now IN
the sunshine Of fame such as no prisoner had
ever enjoyed before But they grew desperately
afraid of him, concluding as many Of the warders
had already done that he had dealings with the
father Of night. Meanwhile Number e22 con-
Quoted himself as he had always done, with gen
tlenesS, politeness and good hunor, ana continued
as before to earn the highest POSSIBLE number OF
good conduct marks per week
The assistant warler whom he had subdued in
the manner described made no report Of the affair,
because the remembrance cf 1T had by some oc-
cult agency known only to his suDduer Deen Ut
ter]y efaced in him. And, odd TO relate, this
same assistant warder became from that day
kindly and almost afIectionately disposed toward
Number 222, and used his influence with higher
officer to have him promoted In the JAIL
His promotion brought him under the immediate
authority of principal warder, with whom
until now he had had very little to do. This was
small sturdy man, with teeth like tuslis ana an
acrobatic agility of frame, who would provoke
prisoner into knocking him down for The suDse-
quent satisfaction Of procuring him logging.
The waryler no sooner had Number 222 under
his control than he hated him he no sooner hated
lx.aIf IN
sooner resolved TO incommode him than lie pro-
ceeded 10 put the resolve into effect.
lie rcrcciyed that Number 81. man of
mild behavior and VINO might be expected TO
accommodate himself to course OF corrective
treatment.
He set him dirty little tasks OF supcrfuous
character, and accused him Of breaches OF the
rules which lie could not possibly have committed
When on duty at night in the corridor in which
Number 222 had his CELL he would hiss softly at
him through the slit in the door which served as
spy-hole, and would wake him at midnight TO say
that he had his eye upon him.
Il thank you, sir was the only rejoindcr he
could ever obtain from the occupant
One nicht he unlocked the door with a snap
let himself into the cell ana SAID: I've caught
you, my pippn, have ?
."You're achieving terbacker, 222,7 replied the
warder.
lam stranger TO the use of tobacco in every
fom Sir" said the prisoner.
Get out of bed. I'm a. going TO search you,
retured the warder.
The mild Anncred prisoner obeyed and the
spiteful warder made prctcncc OF searching nm
In stoopinc 10 feel the lower part Of his body
the warder's cap rolled off. Number 222 qhetly
bent over the mans head, concentrated his gaze
there and breathcd hard upon IT. cold shlVer
ran down the warder's back, and the prisoner un-
derstood that this man, like the rcst was sensitive
TO his influence.
"what are you ADDING ?" said the warder lis.
ing up quickly
eve of the prisoner seemed as though 1t would
pierce the brain OF the wardcr. go
The warder's glance began 10 WAIVER ana shlit'
and his whole mien and bearing were changed.
"What is that you have at your side p said
Number 222, pointing TO the staff which the waid-
er carried at his belt His tone was no longer
servilc but commanding.
Tho warder, however, had not quite lost HIM
self and he answered loudly, but not 50 loudly as
usual:
None Of your lip now. 222. I'll run you In
for this, will"
Running prisoner in Is the euphcmism for con-
vcying him TO the punishment cells.
What have YOU at your side p repeated Num-
Der 222. with a calm and otcadlast voice.
The warder, in obedience 10 an impulse WHICH
he could NOT control, laid his hand upon the
weapon and answered:
My staff. You know that well enough
"You are wrong" said Number 222 quietly. 1t
is q whiskcy bottle"
The warder llucked his staff from its case and
looked at it. and q spell seemed working on Lin.
You see observed the prisoner, smiling, 1T
is q whisl1cy bottle"
ut isn't it's staff, my own staf,' the waid-
or answered slowly and sullenly but even as lie
spoke q dubious look crcpt upon his features.
Examine it carefully" said Number 222.
What is it now?'
Its a staff, wills, a staff. Yes, 1t is
staff" persisted the warder Then n half-lght OF
recognition stole into his face and he added eau
tiously, But it's very like a whskey-bottle.'
1t is "a whislkey-botte. the prisoner said
again. Smell IL"
The warder raised his stan TO his face and noScd
n cIlticaly